Up to 60 people have received death threats linked to an ongoing loyalist feud in Co Antrim, a court has heard.

Warnings passed on through police and the confidential Crimestoppers phone line centre on tensions in the Carrickfergus area, a judge was told.

The claim was made as three men from Newtownards, Co Down, were granted bail on charges of having weapons allegedly connected to the dispute.

Robert Ralph (45), Peter Callaghan (45), and Adrian Price (46), were arrested after police stopped a car in Carrick's Castlemara estate early on October 6.

Officers allegedly seized pickaxe handles, a lock knife, hammer and crowbar during searches of the vehicle.

Ralph, from Ballyrainey Road, and Callaghan and Price, both of Blenheim Drive, are all charged with possessing an offensive weapon in public. Price faces a further count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to another man with intent.

At a previous hearing for a co-accused, police claimed the weapons were related to a UDA feud in the area.